Signal-equipped container



flu W, W50 0. E. HOTZLER ET AL 2,494,944

SIGNAL-EQUIPPED CONTAINER Filed July 23, 1948 hmmzzzew INVENTORS.

ATTOR NEYS.

Patented Jan. 17, 1950 [T ED ""FFICE SIGNAL-EQUEZZEZONTAINER Otto E; 'Hotzlers and: Walter E. Schultm. Mountain Lakc,.Minn..

Application July 23, 1948, Serial-N; 405275 This invention-relates to a container adapted to hold such articles as milk bottles, after delivery tda customers residence and before the customer-has had anopportunity to bring the bottles into thehousaand. also such articles as newspapers, or the like.

The container is particularly. adapted for mounting at a point which maybe-somewhat remote from. the residence taking the milk delivery, the device being equipped'with a flag that servesas a signal which can be visibly observed bythe person-taking the delivery, thus acquainting' that personwiththe factthat the milk. or other articles has been delivered.

It is an important object of the invention to provide a device of the type stated wherein the box is novelly constructed in a manner providing full insulation against heat, cold, or dampness, the container embodying a special hinge arrangement for its cover that fully seals the interior of the container against the admission of said elements.

Another important object is to provide a container as described wherein the flag is so mounted that the cover cannot be raised, without lowering the flag to horizontal position, that is raising of the cover automatically results in the lowering of the flag.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a container constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse section therethrough.

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Figure 4 is a view partially in top plan and partially in horizontal longitudinal section, of the flag portion.

Referring to the drawings in detail, we provide an outer container which is preferably of sheet metal material or the like, and which includes a front 5, a back 6 of somewhat greater height than the front, and a bottom I. The particular manner in which this outer container is made can vary, but it is desired that in each case, the outer container be air tight, so far as possible, and this can be achieved by spot weld- 2 Claims. (CL.232-4-1-) ingpvrherenecessary, during bending of the sheet materialltbishape, t'o provide the outer container. Insulating the interior of the container against the admission of moisture, heat, or cold, is an insulation layer 8; covering the front, back, bottom, and sides 10f. the container.

Eor'theipurposeioft fixedly securing the device toapost orthe like,- not shown, we provide openings .9;-.:for'screws' or bolts.

'Ilhe invention. embodies a hinged cover ID for the cnntaiher, thissbeing. marginally lipped as 313541., the'lipwoverlying the topxed-ge of theouter container 'toproy-idea snug fit.

Tlie top edge; oh the back portion 6 of thecontainer is extended upwardly, and rolled forwardly to provide an outer rolled hinge member l2 extending longitudinally of the container. The rear longitudinal edge of the cover I0 is also rolled, to provide a rolled inner hing-e member l3, that is received within the member l2. It may be readily observed that the hinged connection can be made by entering one end of hinge member l3 into an end of hinge member I2, and then slidin the member l3 longitudinally of the member 12 until the ends of both members are aligned then, the end portions of the hinge connection can be crimped as at M, to secure the connection and prevent misalignment during use.

Fixedly secured to the cover [0 intermediate its ends is a retaining plate i5, longitudinally recessed as at Hi to provide an open ended passage. At one end, a substantially semi-circular indentation is made in the wall of the passage, as at IT.

Slidable and rotatable in the passage is the shank N3 of a flag support, and integral with the shank and at right angles thereto is the arm 19, to which is clamped the flag 20. Integral with the other end of the shank, and also at right angles thereto, is a small arm 2|. In the position of the parts as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 particularly, the flag arm I9 is positioned within the end recess or indentation l1, and thus the flag arm is held upright.

With the flag upright, the cover II] is raised, and when it is raised, the shorter arm 2| is engaged by the cam member 22, secured rigidly to the outer hinge member l2, and extended upwardly therefrom. The cam member as seen from Fig. 2 is inclined toward the flag, and is gradually curved toward its free end. Thus, on raising of the cover, the cam engages arm 2|, and this moves shank I8 lengthwise of the passage, so that the flag arm I!) is moved to the left in Fig. 1, and is freed from engagement with the end recess H. The flag as a result is caused to fall to horizontal position automatically upon raising of the cover.

On the next occasion when milk or newspapers, or similar articles, are delivered, the delivery man after placing the articles in the box, lowers the cover and simply raises the flag to upright position, sliding the shank I 8 in a reverse direction so that the flag becomes engaged, and will remain upright as a signal to the customer.

What is claimed is:

1. In a signal-equipped container a box portion, a vertically swinging lid hinged thereto, a flag signal shank mounted on the upper surface of said cover for horizontal sliding movement thereupon and for rotatable movement on its longitudinal axis, means on the cover adapted to hold the shank releasably against rotation in one extreme position to which said shank is shifted slidably, and a cam fixedly secured to the box portion and engaging the shank on raising of the lid, the cam and shank being so shaped as to cause said shank to be shifted slidably to another extreme position on raising of the lid, thus to free the shank for rotatable movement.

2. In a signal-equipped container a box portion open at its upper end, a cover hinged to the box portion and normally closing the upper end, said cover being mounted for vertical swinging movement, a horizontal retaining plate fixedly mounted on the upper surface of said cover and formed with a generally tubular horizontally extended passage open at both ends, the plate having an end recess cut out of the wall of said tubular passage at one end of the passage, a flag member including a horizontally extending shank mounted for slidable movement longitudinally of the shank and for rotation on its longitudinal axis within the tubular passage, said shank projecting from opposite ends of said passage, an upstanding flag member rigid with and extending upwardly from one end of the shank, an arm rigid with and extending upwardly from the other end of the shank, said flag member adapted in one extreme position to which the shank is slidably shifted to engage in said end recess to hold the shank against rotation, and a cam member in the form of a curved metal strip rigidly secured at one end to the box portion, the other end of the cam member adapted to engage the arm on the shank on elevation of the lid to shift the shank longitudinally within the tubular passage and free the flag member from said end recess, for gravitation of the flag member to a down position.

OTTO E. HOTZLER. WALTER E. SCHULTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 732,904 Snedeker July 7, 1903 1,662,399 Rood et al Mar. 13, 1928 

